Walk Into the Future

Tag: Nashville

  • 2025 Nashville Half Marathon Part 2

    “Nashville vibes and honky-tonk nights”.

    (Instagram)

    My Walk into the Future in Nashville, Tennessee (NashVegas) provided me with new adventures this year!  I normally stick to my tried-and-true venues but wanted to explore a bit more this year.

    The Stage

    I know this is one of my regular stops when in Nashville, but I always like to stop in.  This is my favorite live music venue in Nashville because of the actual stage and the way the music carries throughout the venue.  The view of the band is never obstructed, and the sound system provides a great acoustic backdrop for the crowd.  There’s not much of a dance floor, but you occasionally will see a few folks out dancing to the music. 

    Category 10 (new)

    This was my first time visiting Category 10.  This venue transitioned from the Wildhorse Saloon and now features Luke Combs and his musical endeavors.  The Wildhorse Saloon is a place I loved visiting for the great music, large dance floor and line dancing.  Luke Combs and his team did a great job renovating this venue and turned Category 10 into a destination in Nashville. 

    The main dance hall is huge and has three levels.  The stage and dance area are the largest in the Broadway area and the crowds continue to flock here.  I was able to get in some line dancing before and after the half marathon and enjoyed every minute of it. 

    Bon Jovi (new)

    Jon Bon Jovi has the newest bar on lower Broadway.  I walked by the venue several times before deciding to go in.  I thought it would only be a rock venue but there were country tunes coming out on the day I walked in.  This was a huge venue with multiple levels of music to include a rooftop bar.  It was a nice spot and I’m sure I will visit again on my return to Nashville.

    Jelly Roll (new)

    I’m not sure how new this spot is because I’ve walked by this location on lower Broadway multiple times but never ventured in.  It has multiple levels, but it is not a huge venue.  It has a great sound stage and angles to watch the bands play.  I’m not sure how often I will visit this spot, but it was a nice change of pace from my normal Honky Tonk adventures.

    Morgan Wallen (new)

    Morgan Wallen’s bar is called THIS BAR after one of his songs.  It’s not on Broadway but you can see it from Jason Aldean’s rooftop bar.  I’m not a huge Wallen fan but there was a stream of folks going in and out, so I decided to join the crowd.  The rooftop bar had great views of the Nashville skyline and an outstanding sound stage.  The beer was cold, and the crowd was ready to have a good time.  I decided to stick around for multiple beers and vibe with the band. 

    Jason Aldean’s

    This is my favorite rooftop bar in Nashville!  It’s right in the middle of Broadway and offers views up and down Broadway.  The crowds on the rooftop are mellow and kicked back on sofas or high back chairs.  The best bands play on the rooftop and the dance floor is always packed.  This is a great place to watch people and listen to outstanding musicians.  I highly recommend this spot if you are heading to NashVegas!

    Well, that’s my Nashville report on places I visited on my most recent trip.

    Which venue are you going to visit? 😊

    Irie!

    Calvin Williams

    “Nashville, where the music flows like sweet tea”.

    (Unknown)

  • 2025 Nashville Half Marathon

    “I love Nashville.  It seems like everywhere you walk; there’s great music coming out of every wall”.

    (Imelda May)

    My Walk into the Future brought me back to one of my favorite cities, Nashville, Tennessee (NashVegas)! 😊

    I always look forward to my yearly pilgrimage to the Music City for the half marathon, live music and great food.  Nashville is my city!

    I added bridge repeats to my training program this year to help me battle the Nashville hills.  This additional training got me ready, like my old training routes in Tallahassee, Florida.  I never imagined how the hill training in Tallahassee prepared me for the half marathon distance.  Yes, I need more hill training in my life!

    The 2025 Nashville Rock N Roll Half Marathon was a battle.  This was not because of the distance or the hills.  I put in extra work to get me mentally and physically ready to rock the half marathon (pun intended).  The battle on race day was because of the unseasonably high humidity.  April temperatures in Nashville rarely get past the mid-60s but our race day started with temperatures in this range and the humidity hung in the air.  Again, the race temperature at the start was fine but the humidity was my primary worry.  Yes, I train in Florida, but the humidity has not been high so far in this training cycle.

    The race is well organized and there are aid stations about every 1.5 miles on the course.  I made a mental and strategic plan to get extra fluids at the aid stations to keep myself hydrated throughout the race.

    I stayed in a new hotel this year.  The Marriott Courtyard West End which was one block over from my normal hotel.  I got a great rate which included parking and breakfast and allowed me faster access to the great restaurants in the West End of Nashville.  I got an early morning flight from Orlando to Nashville so I could hit the race EXPO when it opened and then head over to Broadway for food, beer and music.

    Getting through the EXPO was a breeze!  The Rock N Roll folks know how to throw a race party.  I got my bib, t-shirt and Rock N Roll carry bag and made my way to visit the vendors in the Music City Convention Center.  I didn’t really need anything but always get some food samples and explore clothing options.  I found a funky headband that matched my projected race outfit and tried out some recovery boots—this is always a highlight if there are no long lines.  No, Lauren, I did not buy the high price recovery boots. 😊

    I left the EXPO and walked one block over to Broadway to take in the sights and hear great music.  My first stop was Rippy’s Honkytonk for food, beer and live music.  Rippy’s is a popular spot and has great BBQ.  This is not my typical meal before a race, but the pull pork is outstanding, and I doubled up on the French fries as part of my carb loading process.  I left Rippy’s and made my way to my favorite spot, The Stage.  I love this spot because of the stage configuration and the quality bands that play here.  This is my go-to spot in Nashville. 

    I left The Stage and made my way down to 2nd Ave to check out Luke Comb’s new spot, Category 10.  This is where the old Wildhorse Saloon was located, and I was anxious to see what they did to the place.  The inside of the venue has been upgraded with new floors, light show and sound system.  They also provide line dancing lessons throughout the day.  Yes, Maria, I like line dancing when I’m in Nashville. 😊

    https://www.rippyshonkytonk.com/

    Home

    I didn’t want to stay on my feet too much with a half marathon coming up, so I made my way to the Westend of Nashville and checked into my hotel.  I made a point to get to bed early so I could tackle the Nashville hills in the morning.

    My hotel was only 1 mile away from the race start line, so I walked down Broadway as a warmup.  I was assigned Corral #6 this year which put me close to the elite runners.  I’m not saying I am elite, but I could see them from where I was standing. 😊  I got a nice warmup by walking to the start line and stretched well before getting into the corral.  Getting extra hydration on the course was going to be a needed resource due to the humidity.

    The Rock N Roll series uses rolling starts to ensure runners are safe at the start line.  They release corrals every two minutes, so I didn’t have to wait long to get my start down Broadway.  The first portion of the course on Broadway is downhill before we make a right on 4th Ave and then begin the climb back up towards Music Row.

    My first mile was run in 9:20 which felt pretty good considering runners experience the first major hill climb within the first half mile of the race.  My pace stayed consistent throughout the race with Mile 11 being my slowest at 10:34.  I stuck to my race plan and got fluids at each aid station and made a point to pour water on the back of my head to avoid overheating—this really works. 😊

    I finished Mile 13 with a pace of 10:12 and crossed the Nashville Rock N Roll Half Marathon at 2:12:45 which was 8 minutes faster than 2024 even with the heat and humidity.  Unfun fact—there were several racers who needed medical attention on the course.  This is the only race where I’ve seen runners receiving medical attention.  I’m hoping these runners have speedy recoveries and can get back to running soon.

    The race after party was epic again this year with food trucks, free beer and a concert.  I stayed around a little longer this year to soak in the atmosphere and celebrate a hard-fought race.  I am already looking forward to my return to the 2026 Nashville Rock N Roll Half Marathon.

    What are you looking forward to?

    FYI–part 2 will cover my time on Broadway! 😊

    Irie!

    Calvin Williams

    “The half marathon is not a race against others; it’s a race against our own doubts”.

    (Unknown)

  • Five Minute Thursday: Travel

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    “The world is a book, and those who do not travel read only a page”.

    (Saint Augustine)

    Shout out to the Walk into the Future blog readers and subscribers.  Appreciate everyone joining me on this journey!

    Let’s give the Five-Minute Thursday writing prompt another run.  I’m enjoying this writing prompt as a challenge to create new content based on a word or phrase.  FYI—this writing prompt will be around for a while so buckle up. 😊

    My fifth prompt for Five Minute Thursday is:  Travel.

    I could take this prompt in multiple directions but will focus on my willingness to explore travel solo.  I write about my annual visits to the Smoky Mountains, Nashville and Negril as regular topics for the Walk into the Future blog.  I will continue to travel to these spots as long as I’m able—all three locations provide me with a different level of peace and allow me to add new chapters into my personal ‘travel book’ (pun intended).

    The Smoky Mountains getaway provides a level of solitude I can’t find anywhere else.  Yes, there are other people walking around in the mountains but the level of peace I find there is unmatched.  Simple trail walks and just being out in nature is captivating and helps me refocus.

    Not sure I would categorize Nashville as peaceful, but I get a different energy vibe when in Nash Vegas.  I love live music and there’s not a better place to hear great live music.  I have regular spots I visit in Nashville (The Stage, Lucky Bastards, Dierks Bently Whiskey Row and Tequila Cowboys) because they have great sound systems, and the regular bands are all outstanding.  Each of these spots are larger venues and I can always find a corner to post up to enjoy the music and watch the crowds.  I normally just go back and forth between these spots until I get my fill of music and then head back to my hotel to do it again the next day.  The Wild Horse Saloon was on my regular rotation, but it closed late last year.  Luke Combs has a new venue in the same spot, and I plan to visit when I return to Nashville in April. 

    Negril, Jamaica is my happy spot!  I’ve written this multiple times, and nothing has changed.  Love flying down and spending time on the water and enjoying great food.  I go down there so much my resort lets me check myself in when I arrive.  The folks are friendly and take care of me like I’m a member of the family.  Will look to get down to Negril multiple times each year moving forward—may need to buy property down there so I have my own spot.  Can always rent out space when I’m not down there enjoying myself. 😊

    So, my five minutes are up.  How would you complete a five-minute prompt on travel?

    Irie!

    “Travel and change of place impart new vigor to the mind”.

    (Seneca)

  • 2024 Nashville Rock N Roll Half Marathon

    “Nashville, man. That’s the place to be”.

    (Willie Geist)

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    This quote really hits home for me!

    My Walk into the Future leads me back to Tennessee multiple times each year.  April is a trip to Nashville for the Rock N Roll Half marathon and November has me hiking in the Smoky Mountains.

    Not sure when I fell in love with Tennessee, but I’ve got it bad.  I looked at moving to Nashville back in 2017 but never pursued the career opportunity.  My first visit to Nashville came back in 2006 when I attended a Florida Gators versus Vanderbilt Commadores football game.  Got my first experience with Broadway and the Wild Horse Saloon and the rest is history.

    I ran my first Nashville Rock N Roll half marathon back in 2017.  I’ve been back yearly since then—I missed 2020 because the race was cancelled due to Covid-19 and 2021 because the race was changed from April to November as a reschedule due to Covid-19 concerns.  I decided to head to the Smoky mountains as planned instead of running in Nashville in November.

    Fast forward to this year and the return to Nashville was an anticipated adventure for me.  I love the city, the food, the music, and the people.  Broadway is an outstanding place to watch people and hear fantastic live music.  Check, check and check.

    I didn’t enter the race this year with a set time goal in mind.  Just wanted to enjoy the environment, the people and after race party.

    I’m a creature of habit so stayed in the same hotel for the past three years.  It is in the West End and a short walk to the Broadway music scene.  I normally eat in the same places (Midtown Café, Rippy’s Honky Tonk and ACME Feed and Seed).  The Wildhorse Saloon closed in January and is under renovation to become Luke Comb’s new venture.  No line dancing this trip since my favorite spot shut down. ☹

    The weather was forecasted to be warmer than normal—the race normally happens earlier in April but was pushed back a week this year.  FYI—it was not Florida warm but not as cool as I would like considering the hilly Nashville course.

    Toed the line with 23,000+ other runners to test my mental and physical fitness while taking in all the site and sounds of Nashville.  Did I mention I love this place?! 😊

    Finished a bit slower than last year but felt good throughout.  The hills were a bit tougher with warmer temperatures but powered through until the finish line.  Proud of my 2:20:34 finish time. 

    Already planning my return trip next April for another run in Nashville.

    Here’s my trip in pictures:

    (EXPO)

    (Broadway)

    (Race day)

     

    original_c2ce83df-fd5a-4a8a-9800-76d1816576df_20240428_08132520240427_171254original_24cc2929-4c1a-4ebc-a171-4b8591b474ee_20240428_113420original_5cdf0dca-b178-42be-adc5-24c9de19b53e_20240428_112825original_9a93dd6e-9704-4356-bac1-48505bfe925d_20240428_152647(Nashville / Broadway)

    Next stop the Rhode Island Half Marathon:  https://runrhody.com/event/rihalfmarathon/

    Irie!

  • 2023 WordPress Stats

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    Photo by Miguel u00c1. Padriu00f1u00e1n on Pexels.com

    “I made a decision to write for my readers, not try to find more readers for my writing”.

    (Seth Godin)

    Love this quote as it reflects my original thoughts when I started the Walk into The Future blog back in 2018.

    My intent has always been to create content others would want to read but not seek out followers for the blog.  Some of you are stuck with me because we grew up together, so happy to have you along for this journey.  Others have found my writing via WordPress based on my content and/or topics presented.

    I’m happy to have you here regardless of how/why you read my thoughts—appreciate the company on this life I live.

    WordPress provides authors with daily, monthly, and yearly statistics directly on my dashboard.  I’m able to identify when my work is viewed in another country and my reach continues to expand.  Again, not driven by this but it is nice to see someone in Spain or India has read my latest blog post.  Not sure how I attract folks so far away, but it feels great and inspired me to write a bit more and with more substance.

    My 2023 stats can be viewed here:  https://wordpress.com/annual-report/walkintothefuture.blog/2023

    I’m back in the writing lab working on new topics and adventures I will begin sharing next week.  I am also entering the busy portion of my racing schedule so there will be race recaps to include my 2023 Palm Beaches Marathon experience and the next BIG race on my 2024 schedule.  Hint—I got accepted into the Chicago Marathon.  This is exciting news for me and will be the largest run event I will participate in.  Thanks to Orlando Track Shack and the global running impact of this organization—it helped me get into the Chicago Marathon.

    Big things coming in 2024—stay tune! LOL.

    Irie!

    “Do or do not.  There is no try”.

    (Yoda)

  • House updates

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    “Home is the nicest word there is”.

    (Laura Ingalls Wilder)

    The Walk into the Future adventures continue to move forward daily.

    I closed on my townhouse in Fort Pierce back in May.  This was something I wanted to do when I first moved here but things and conditions did not align for me.  Things happen for a reason and in due time—a bit cliché I know but this fits my home buying journey.

    I looked for a townhouse to purchase for a little over two years but did not get serious with a real estate agent until Summer 2022.  We looked in several areas, but I never got comfortable with prices and/or locations during the early stages.  We kept moving forward with the search and the prices started to come back down in early 2023.  Worked with my agent to hone into a more detailed search and we began viewing townhouses that fit my stated budget and in areas I wanted to live in.

    Found my townhouse less than three miles from where I was living in Fort Pierce.  This was a bit ironic because I looked in a lot of other areas but never checked out my own neighborhood.

    We made an offer within a week and accepted the small counter offer the following week.  Things went quickly once we made the offer, and my agent guided me through the process, and I felt comfortable the entire time.  Fast forward and we closed in the early part of May, and I was suddenly a homeowner again.  My apartment lease was not due to expire until October but there was a provision in the lease that would allow me out early with a one-time penalty.  This was a welcomed provision since I did not have to rush my move and this extra time allowed me to make some upgrades.

    Floors

    The living area in the townhouse came with tile floors.  This was a nice look for the property but both bedrooms and closets had carpet.  I’m not a fan of carpet and knew this was going to be removed before I moved in.  My realtor connected me with several flooring specialists so I could get quotes to pull up the carpet and install wood laminate floors.  Wanted to get this upgrade completed before moving into the townhouse.  My flooring guy provided me with a ton of samples to choose from and we agreed on floor color, date of installation and pricing.  Took him two days to complete the flooring overhaul and the new look made the place feel bigger and I didn’t have to worry about what the old owners left in the carpet.

    Painting

    The best time to paint is prior to moving in with furniture.  Decided to change the paint scheme throughout the townhouse to brighten it a bit and put my touches on the new place.  Got painter recommendations from friends and interviewed two painters.  Selected my painter and headed to Home Depot to pick out my paint.  The townhouse came with a black accent wall—yes, you read that correctly.  There was no way I was keeping the black accent wall.  LOL.  Picked out a nice and refreshing blue paint for the NEW accent wall and a natural (sand) color for the rest of the townhouse.  Left the paint with the painter and got out of his way to upgrade the paint scheme for me. 

    Appliances

    This move-in provided me with an opportunity for a complete reboot of the inside.  Purchased the townhouse with appliances but wanted to start fresh.  My realtor shared that Home Depot has fantastic appliance sales in conjunction with the 4th of July holiday.  I thought she was overstating the sale, but it turns out Home Depot appliance sale is just as great as she stated.  Decided to purchase a complete kitchen package and remove the old appliances prior to my official move-in.  My new appliances are all under the same warranty and should provide me with years of enjoyment.

    Furniture

    My original plan was to enter the townhouse with all the furniture I owned.  Quickly determined my new place required a furniture upgrade to make it feel complete.  My TV console was fine in my old apartment but was too small for the larger space of the townhouse.  Also, my dining room table was adequate for the apartment but did not fit the style or feel of my new place.  Made a trip to City Furniture and Rooms 2 Go to begin the process of figuring out what I wanted for the new place.  Rooms 2 Go had a better selection that fit me so made my large purchases there.  The bonus was the free delivery they offer.  Still looking to upgrade some of my shelves but very happy with my new furniture and how it looks in the townhouse.

    I still have a few more home modifications I want to make in the bathrooms but happy with my progress so far.  The townhouse is slowly becoming home for me.  Enjoy having a place of my own to come back to after work or a road trip.

    What makes your house a home?

    Irie!

    “A house is made of bricks and beams.  A home is made of hopes and dreams”.

    (Unknown)

  • My Reading Progress

    “A reader lives a thousand lives before he dies…The man who never reads lives only one”.

    (George R. R. Martin)

    My Walk into the Future provides me with the flexibility to add new adventures daily.  I continue to view this life I lead to engage my mind, body, and soul.  This blog gives me a space to highlight what I am doing, thinking, or getting ready to accomplish. 

    Goal setting remains a huge part of my success in life, and I look for ways to leverage my goals to help me continue to move forward.  I review my goals daily to ensure my energy and focus are consistent to meet or exceed them.

    I set reading goals each year in January with intent to read something daily.  My daily readings center around Proverbs and a few companion books by Joel Osteen.  I started reading Proverbs daily when I lived in Warner Robins, Georgia and this Atomic Habit remains strong.  Joel Osteen created a 31-day Proverbs companion book which I utilize when completing my daily Proverbs readings.  This little book has helped me understand more and brings Proverbs to life with language for my current Walk into the Future.

    My larger reading goal is to read 1 book monthly.  There were years where I would be super aggressive with this goal but decided to create a reading goal that provides me an opportunity to stay on track.  Please note, just because it says 1 book monthly does not mean I can’t read more, and I do.  I am an avid reader and love to sit on the beach with a good book and cold beer to practice this hobby.  My love for reading started in middle school and it has not slowed down except when my schedule gets in the way. 

    The books I select range from leadership, communication, and inspiration topics.  These are topics of interest for me so stick to areas I seek growth.  I have a couple friends who inquire about my reading selections and have started to read the same books—you can say we have an informal book club going.  We discuss the books after everyone has completed them and look for ways to incorporate the content into life and the work environment. This little book club motivates me to stay on track and focus on my reading.  It has also provided me with access to books I may have missed on my own.  I tend to stick to authors I know but the book club expands my focus and challenges me to explore other authors to enhance my Walk into the Future.

    The following books were referred by book club members:

    • Disruptive Thinking / TD Jakes
    • Wisdom of the Bullfrog / Admiral William H. McRaven
    • 16 Undeniable Laws of Communication:  Apply Them and Make the Most of your Message / John C. Maxwell

    FYI—this was my first TD Jakes book, and I was pleasantly surprised by the content and enjoyed reading his thoughts on Disruptive Thinking.  It is something we can all practice daily, but it was great gaining new insights on how to move forward in life daily. 

    I have read multiple books by Admiral McRaven and his wisdom comes through within the context of leadership and helping teams get better.

    Lastly, John Maxwell communication strategies can be leveraged in most work settings and enhance overall operations for the team.

    I am on pace to meet my stated reading goals and continue to seek additional books to add to my library.  This will continue and help me to Walk into the Future.

    How are you doing on meeting your goals?  What books are you reading in 2023?

    Irie!

  • Marathon training

    Marathon training

    (Image by CoupleStyle from Pixabay)

    My marathon training program begins again next week.  Decided to stick with the 18-week training program I used last year.  This program provides a gradual mileage build-up and allows me flexibility to train and still get normal life activities completed.

    The 2023 Palm Beaches Marathon will provide another mental and physical test for me to continue to challenge myself to get better daily.  I feel like a veteran this time around since I got my initial marathon under my belt last year.  I’m excited for the opportunity to train and improve my race outcome this year.  There were several lessons from 2022 that will help me with my journey this year.

    Exercise bike

    I mistakenly believed I could replace running miles with miles on my exercise bike.  Numerically the miles are equal but there is a difference between hard work on an exercise bike and outside miles in Florida.  There is a time and place for the exercise bike, but I will not lean on this form of training as much as I did in 2022.

    Speed work

    I concentrated on building up my mileage base in 2022 but not as much on speed work.  I did several sessions on the local track to work on tempo and speed but know I will need to work pace runs in more this year.  My training plan has several tempo runs inserted and I will do a better job of following the pace days as outlined.  The tempo runs will help me convert my physical fitness into a better race day pace.

    Heat and humidity

    My weekday training runs were completed with 5 am training sessions.  I started my runs at 5 am to beat the heat and completed them prior to my workday during the week.  My weekend runs started around 7:30 am to get out and back before the south Florida heat kicked in.  This was a solid plan, but I did not log many miles in the heat of the day.  Sounds like a smart training plan but the second half of the Palm Beaches Marathon is run in direct sunlight with minimal shade.  It was not overly hot in December, but the sun was on me from the 18-mile marker until the end of the marathon.  I did not handle this part of the race well since I avoided running in/with the sun during my training phase.  I will SMARTLY look for ways to incorporate more training to leverage the south Florida heat and humidity to enhance my training program.

    Here’s the 18-week training program I will launch next week:

    Marathon Training

    I will document my training progress again this year with updates on how I’m doing with mileage, nutrition, and thoughts.  Excited to Walk into the Future again and tackle the 2023 Palm Beaches Marathon.  Looking to run substantially faster than 2022 and cross the finish line again with a smile on my face.

    Irie!

  • Nashville 2023

    Nashville, Tennessee is one of my favorite places to visit.  The culture, music, food, and activities around the Lower Broadway area keep bringing me back year after year.

    The 2023 Nashville Rock N Roll Half Marathon was the draw that got me back up there in April.  The race organizers do a fantastic job with the race and really take care of the runners.

    Made my way to Nashville on Friday and wanted to ensure I had time to explore the race EXPO.  My friend Lauren and boyfriend Reese came down from Philly and we met at the EXPO.  This was the first time seeing them since last year for the Atlantic City Half Marathon.  Lauren had never run in Nashville and wanted to experience the sights, sounds and music I’m always talking about.

    We got our race packets and made our way to visit the vendors and see what new products are out.  Tested a few of the new hydration drinks available but didn’t buy anything.  Decided I wanted to get new leg compression sleeves and got a Rock N Roll custom designed pair.  They matched my running outfit and provided me with a new look for the race.  We got EXPO photos together and listened to the music for a bit. 

    The Rock N Roll folks moved the EXPO from the Music City Convention Center to the Musicians Hall of Fame.  Sounds similar but the new location was a lot smaller, and the vendors were cramped into a hallway.  I hope we move back to our regular location next year—plus it would put us closer to Broadway and all the music venues.

    Left the EXPO and made my way back over to Lower Broadway to continue to carb load and find some music.  Found an open seat at the Wildhorse Saloon and got food and beer while watching the line dancers.  Love the Wildhorse and the band playing was great, and the line dancers were having a ball.  Decided to forego line dancing since I had a half marathon the next day.  Left the Wildhorse and hit a couple other music spots before making my way back to the hotel to get some rest.

    Met Lauren on race day close to the start line so we could stretch and mentally prepare for the Nashville hills.  I texted her during my training sessions to let her know I was running hill repeats over bridges.  She didn’t fully understand why until we got to Nashville.  😊

    Shoutout to my friends at the First Baptist Church in Nashville!  They open the church property and allow runners to relax inside while waiting for the race to start.  This really comes in handy when the weather is cool and helps runners get off their feet prior to the race start.

    We made our way to the start line and settled into Corral #5.  Surprisingly ran into an Orlando runner I met last year at this race, and he remembered me.  Turns out he came back for the race because he did not like his 2022 race time and wanted to improve.  I met another runner who lives in Buffalo but moved there from Orlando.  They saw my Track Shack running shirt and it was a family reunion prior to the race start.  I highlight these encounters because I tried to prepare them for the hills they were about to run.  They did not seem to think I was serious and could not imagine the hills were going to be as extreme as I described.  I tried to help them, but they had to learn on their own.

    Fast forward—Lauren and I started the race together and ran down the Lower Broadway hill with a smile on our faces.  The first half mile in Nashville is downhill and the rest appears to be up a different hill for the next 8 miles.  Wish this was an exaggeration but check the race elevation—the hills are steep in Nashville.

    We split up after the third hill and ran our individual races.  The weather was a lot cooler this year and this made running the hills a lot more pleasant. 

    Ran most of the race with a smile on my face and enjoyed the great music and spectators that lined the course and cheered for runners.  This may be my favorite race for spectators on the course and the music is fantastic.

    My race splits were:

    Mile 1:  9:57/ Mile 2:  10:40 / Mile 3:  10:47 / Mile 4:  9:48 / Mile 5: 9:58 / Mile 6:  10:02 / Mile 7: 10:10 / Mile 8:  10:04 / Mile 9:  9:54 / Mile 10:  9:28 / Mile 11:  9:54 / Mile 12:  10:05 / Mile 13:  10:04 / Mile .1 / 2:48   (2:13:34 Half Marathon)

    ***Super proud of that Mile 10 split!*** 😊

    Lauren and I spent time at the after-race party recovering from the hilly half marathon, drinking beers, and getting some pictures together to commemorate the race and great atmosphere.

    ACME and Wildhorse Saloon

    Made our way across the bridge over the Cumberland River and met Reese at ACME for brunch.  This is a multi-level building with great views, food, and cold beer:  https://www.acmefeedandseed.com/.

    The Wildhorse Saloon was next for some line dancing lessons and more cold beer.  We decided to get in as much Lower Broadway as possible before leg soreness kicked in from the race.  This was Lauren first line dancing rodeo, so we made our way onto the dance floor to learn a nice dance and then they turned us loose with two songs to showcase our line dancing moves.  We were great students and danced without stepping on any toes or hurting our dance neighbors.  Great experience and a lot of fun to introduce my Philly friend to Nashville line dancing.

    We hit a few other music spots on Lower Broadway to get the full country music experience.  Decided to call it a day once the leg soreness kicked in.  Made my way back to my hotel to begin the recovery process and find more Nashville music.

    Fantastic race, trip, and time with my tree branches!

    Yes, I’m already signed up to return in 2024.  Who is joining the Nashville party?

    Irie!

  • Busy or productive? (Repost)

    Busy or Productive

    “Beware the barrenness of a busy life”.

    (Socrates)

    Dictionary.com defines busy as having a great deal to do.

    Conversely, Dictionary.com defines productive as producing or able to produce large amounts of goods, crops, or other commodities.

    So, which of these definitions describes your daily endeavors in the workplace?

    People use the terms in a similar fashion, but I am quick to tell folks my goal is to be productive daily. 

    Busy can quickly become a mindset that leads to staff becoming overwhelmed with the tasks they must handle in the work environment.  I ask staff members how they are doing throughout the day and when I hear someone say they are busy I simply ask:  are you busy or productive?

    This makes folks pause for a bit and then they want to know the difference.  Again, I refer to the two distinct definitions.  Someone who exclaims they are busy is identifying they have a lot of things to do, and they are thinking about that workload.  Some will just come out and say I have a lot on my plate and need to get things done.  Sounds reasonable but it can also cause a mental drain on the staff member and anyone else who hears a constant “I am busy” drumbeat in the work environment.  Yes, there may be a lot to do but saying ‘busy’ does not move the needle to get things done. 

    Flip the script!

    My goal is to be productive daily, and this starts with the concept of coming to work to get things done.  The old saying talk is cheap would apply here.  Talking about being busy does nothing to get task accomplished.  A productive mindset allows staff members to come in with focus and take an active role in getting things done.  Tools I use to increase productivity:

    • To Do Lists (daily, weekly, monthly)
    • Outlook calendar (meeting reminders, team time off, out of office reminders)
    • Face to face conversations
    • Email
    • Large Post It Notes on my office walls
    • Staff meetings (group, 1:1, virtual)

    I have used To Do Lists for most of my professional life and these lists help me plan/organize my day to keep me focused on deadlines and work products I need to complete.  I begin each morning before going into the office with a list of action items I want to accomplish for the day.  I sync this list up with any items I did not complete the previous day once I arrive in the office. 

    FYI, I am also the first person in the building most days so I can have 45 minutes to consolidate my lists and build a game plan for the day.  Yes, I put this much thought into my operation to ensure I have a productive day.  I am trying to maximize my opportunities to be productive and leverage all the tools available to help me with this.  A secondary benefit of my lists is they allow me to pick up where I left off when I must help staff members with a task or problem.  I can come back and pick up where I left off without wasting time trying to remember what I need to get done.  Please note, staff and clients take priority, so I get a lot of practice coming back to my daily lists.

    Face to face conversations are a great way to keep the productivity flowing.  I find simply getting up from my desk and going to have a conversation is more productive than emailing back and forth.  We can talk things through, come to a consensus and eliminate potential misunderstandings.  Of course, this only works if the person is available to have a conversation. 😊

    Busy or productive office

    The large Post It Notes on my office walls is something I started while working in the Florida State University’s Career Center.  The concept was for me to put big projects on Post It Notes so staff could come into the office and add updates to each project.  I began to allow staff to build their own projects and put them on my office walls so we could work them together.  I got the Post It Note idea because my white board was not large enough to highlight multiple projects.  I purchase the Post It Notes from Staples and they stick to the wall.  These notes provide a great visual to highlight how productive we are on any given day.  One of my current staff members said coming into my office and seeing the notes is like being ‘in my mind’.  I quickly told her to get out of there because there is a lot going on up there. 😊

    There are other ways to become productive in the work environment, but these are a few that I leverage daily to help move me and the organization forward.

    So, I ask you, are you busy or productive?  What tools are you using to help your productivity?  I welcome your thoughts—thanks!

    “Focus on being productive instead of busy”.

    (Tim Ferris)